FORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University is the preseason favorite to capture its 14th Atlantic Sun Conference regular season championship as the Eagles were near-unanimous selections in the preseason polls conducted by the league office. Uzu Ezeudu was also selected as an ASUN Preseason All-Conference honoree.

"We know there are high expectations of our program every season," said FGCU head coach Karl Smesko about his team's preseason ranking. "We have a lot of talented players. If we learn how to play together and to everyone's strength, we could be really good."

Coming off a 33-4 campaign a year ago with a 17-1 mark in ASUN action, the Eagles earned 10 of the 12 first-place votes in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll and 38 of the possible 40 first-place votes in the ASUN Preseason Media Poll. Lipscomb was picked to finish second in both polls, with two first-place votes coming from the league's head coaches. The other first-place votes in the media poll went to North Florida.

Ezeudu, the returning fifth-year from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, earned preseason recognition after appearing in all 37 games for FGCU last season. She was FGCU's leading shot blocker a year ago with 19. "Uju is a very good player," Coach Smesko said. "She is really smart and really skilled. She is an excellent shooter and an excellent finisher around the rim. Uju is also a great defender who can guard any position on the floor."

The Eagles will start the 2023-24 season at Brown University Nov. 6. The home opener is scheduled for Nov. 14 when Florida International University visits Alico Arena. Season tickets and other ticket plans are available by clicking here.